Dr. Katie Chaka Parks Named As New Director of Education

The Zekelman Holocaust Center is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Katie Chaka Parks as our new Director of Education. In this role, Katie will oversee the department’s comprehensive tours, training, and workshops for thousands of visitors, students, teachers, and adult groups.

Katie, a Holocaust historian specializing in women, gender, and sexuality in modern Germany during World War II and the Holocaust, brings a wealth of experience to this position. She began her journey with The HC as a docent in 2017. She joined the staff part-time in 2021 to teach virtually during the pandemic, before transitioning to a full-time position managing adult education.

“Katie’s charisma combined with her deep compassion and commitment to Holocaust education make her ideally suited to lead our efforts at a critical time,” said Rabbi Eli Mayerfeld, CEO. “We are in a moment of urgency for the preservation of Holocaust history against rising antisemitism and Holocaust distortion. Katie is the inspiring and thought-provoking leader we need now. I am thrilled to have her join our leadership team in a role that is central to our efforts to reduce and ultimately prevent antisemitic acts through Holocaust remembrance.”

With a Ph.D. in History from Wayne State University, Katie’s work has highlighted the crucial need to include women’s stories for a comprehensive understanding of the Holocaust. Her presentation, “Where are All the Women? Untold Experiences from the Holocaust,” has become The HC’s most requested virtual program, and her insights have significantly influenced the storytelling in the museum’s new permanent exhibit, which opened in January 2024.

For Katie, Holocaust education is a powerful tool to combat hatred and antisemitism. She believes that hearing Holocaust testimony transforms listeners into “witnesses of history,” underscoring the universal relevance of the Holocaust and the “shared responsibility” of society in acknowledging this dark chapter of human history.

At The HC, Katie and her team are expanding Holocaust education to multiple professions, demonstrating its relevance across different sectors. For instance, the twisted rule of law in Nazi Germany offers “vital lessons for legal and law enforcement professions,” Katie says. “I am committed to empowering today’s leaders to understand their capacity to effect positive change and make the world a better place.”